Culture Shock

By Amy Dalness

Ku Time

The Alibi's annual Haiku Contest has been around as long as this humble little alt.weekly has been printing: 16 years. But enthusiasm for haiku has only increased over time, as each year more and more submissions cram our inboxes. Get in on the ku-fever: 2008 entries are now being accepted. Here are the categories to get your creative chi flowing:

Best Traditional Haiku

Best Haiku About "The Q"

Most Mysterious Haiku

Best Haiku About Caffeine

Best Haiku About Poo

Best Haiku About Burquewood

Best Haiku About Superpowers

Best Haiku About Rectangles

Best Haiku About How You Spent Your Stimulus Check

Best Miscellaneous Haiku

Now, the rules: Entries must be 17 syllables, broken into lines of 5-7-5. The maximum submission is two haiku per category (no more than 20 haiku per person, total). Send entries to the Alibi's Haiku Contest, 2118 Central SE, PMB 151, Albuquerque, N.M. 87106, or e-mail them to amy@alibi.com. The deadline is Friday, Aug. 22, at 5 p.m. All entries must include your full name and contact information. The winners from each of the 10 categories will receive ass-kickin' prizes like food and books and hugs. All winning haiku (and a few others) will be published in our Sept. 4 issue. Get ku-ing.

New Mex Now Mix

The National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 Fourth Street SW, 246-2261) opens a new exhibition space this weekend, the Community Art Gallery, with works by four contemporary New Mexican artists in New Mex Now Mix. Artists Alex Chávez, Kenny Chávez, Goldie Garcia and Johnny Salas all use mixed media to turn the familiar into the extraordinary. Join the opening reception on Friday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m., or see the exhibit anytime during its display through Jan. 11, 2009. NHCC admission is $3 adults, $2 seniors and free for children 16-and-under.

Oh, Nuts!

With the winter holiday season only months (and months) away, two dance studios are looking to cast their respective Nutcracker shows and start rehearsing. This weekend, Aug. 9 and 10, Keshet Dance Company is holding dance auditions for Nutcracker on the Rocks, a rock 'n' roll twist to the ballet classic. Anyone ages 7 to 107 is welcome to audition, no matter your dance experience. For details, call 224-9808.

The New Mexico Ballet Company is holding auditions Aug. 22 to 24 for its production of the classic Nutcracker Ballet with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The New Mexico Ballet Company is casting dancers ages 8-and-up, but a certain level of dance proficiency is required. For details and a time slot, visit nmballet.org or call 292-4245.